AFA March Madness-National Qualifier Lil Saints

AFA March Madness-National Qualifier
March 28th-29th 2026
McQueen Park-Gilbert, AZ
***top two teams in each Bracket will qualify for 2026 AFA Nationals in Utah
***Fields will open @ 6:30am both days for 7:30am & 8am games***

Schedule and brackets are now LIVE!!!
Check out the exposure site to view your team's schedule or download our app "WESTCOASTAFA” to view schedule/brackets/keep an eye on scores as they are recorded as your games wrap up this weekend!
https://softball.exposureevents.com/254832/afa-march-madness-national-qualifier

Please make sure that your team has paid the $55.00 membership fee to play AFA events. The AFA season runs September 1st-August 31st and is $55.00 per season. YOU MUST HAVE THIS BEFORE YOU HIT THE DIRT.
***You will need this prior to check in one hour before your first pool play game on Saturday. This fee goes directly to headquarters. If you have not already paid your sanctioning fee and been assigned your 4–6-digit number, please do so by clicking the link: https://fastpitch.afasoftball.com/get-involved/team-membership/

(questions on AFA membership-please contact our national director, Glen Messick at 818-389-3467)

One Hour before first game:
-Team must turn in their PRINTED & SIGNED roster/liability waiver (attached)
-Team must show proof of up-to-date team insurance with their team’s name listed as insured
-Please carry copies of birth certificates with you at all times in case of protest
-AFA Membership must be valid and for this season running September 1st-August 31st ($55.00 per team, per season)

***Please make sure that all possible players are listed on the lineup that is turned in on Saturday (even if they are only able to attend on Sunday).

***No players are allowed to hop from one team to another within the same event regardless of what age division they are playing in

***Please make sure that your team brings their own First Aide Kit & Ice for team injuries & emergencies***

National Qualifier Tournament Rules
(High School Federation w/ Arizona AFA Modifications):
1. AFA pool play games will be 1:30 no new inning Saturday (can end in tie) & 1:30 no new inning for bracket play Saturday (must have a winner)
2. Team listed first on the pool play schedule will be in the first base dugout
(unless game before already has next opponent in dugout-please take the open dugout)
3. Coin flip for home/away on Saturday (pool play)
4. Bracket play, the higher seed will automatically be the home team and take the 3B dugout (if same seed-coin flip).
5. Lineup cards must be turned in at the plate meeting
6. POOL PLAY: you may bat your entire line up
7. BRACKET PLAY: You may bat 11, and play 12 (extra players will be listed on lineup card as “EP” and you may use DP/FLEX
8. Courtesy runner for pitcher/catcher must be the last recorded out (Saturday) and Sunday the courtesy runner must be a sub on your lineup card
9. Coaches are allowed one mound visit per inning
10. x
11. Rule rules will be as follows:
12 runs after 3 innings ; 10 runs after 4 innings ; 8 runs after 5 innings
12. In the case of a tie breaker during bracket play, LAST RECORDED OUT is placed at 2B with no outs (International TB)
13. Illegal bat: Easton Ghost-Gold
-If your player steps onto the field with the 2018 Gold Ghost bat, both head coach and player ejection for one full game. Must exit the complex completely until the next game
-If this happens a second time, player and coach are both ejected for the ENTIRE TOURNAMENT
14. Head coaches-it is up to you to make sure that your spectators, fans, assistant coaches, and players are being good sports at all times. Any unruly behavior will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal. Umpires reserve the right to eject head coaches for player/fan behavior if not corrected.
15. A team may start a contest with 8 players, however, the empty spot on the lineup card will take an out each time they come up to the plate for the entire contest until they arrive
16. If there are no substitutes, and a player gets injured during game play and must be removed, they will take an out each time they come up to the plate for the rest of the contest
17. Please be ready to start up to 20 minutes early. We will get games started if blues are ready and fields are prepped and ready to go (be ready to start up to 20 minutes early if blues/fields are ready)
18. To keep the games moving along and maximizing game times, please no huddles on the field and please do not throw the ball around
19. Protests for AFA:
Head coach must bring $60.00 cash to home plate with both umpires where the game clock will be stopped, and umpires and director of the site will meet to discuss the protest. Money will be handed to the director of the site.
Umpires, UIC, and director will make the call on the protest. If the protesting coach is correct, the money goes back to the coach and the umpire will carry out the call. If the protesting coach is incorrect, the director keeps the money and the game will resume
20. Coaches: it’s recommended that you carry a first aid kit and ice packs. ● Sportsmanship is a must. Ejected players and coaches may need to sit the following game. Final decision will be made by the UIC. There will be zero tolerance of harassment of umpires by fans.

● Adverse Weather: The American Fastpitch Tournament could be played in adverse weather conditions. The format may be changed and may include lesser time limits or fewer innings to complete the tournament. Coaches and players accept these conditions when entering the tournament.

*Restrooms will be available on site
*Concessions will be available on site (The Tasty Taco)
*Tournament t-shirts will be available in adult sizes - $25.00 per shirt
*Cool towels will be for sale for $5.00 each
*Viper Sunglasses will be for sale for $25.00 each
Payments will be accepted in the form of cash, Venmo, Zelle.
*Used tournament balls will be available for purchase for $40.00 per dozen-if enough inventory.
See main table to put your name on the list. First come, first serve.
*Homerun balls will be available for purchase at the table for $5.00 each.

Thank you in advance for participating in our event!
Best of luck to you and your girls!
Stacey Stepek
AFA State Director (AZ)
630-335-6830

***Site lead @ McQueen Park will be Anna McCray 480-824-8486***
***UIC will be Xavier Bush***

Attachment

Good Afternoon Coaches-

Payments for our AFA March Madness event @ McQueen Park are now due!!!

Venmo @Stacey-Stepek
or
Zelle to sstepek.azafa@gmail.com (S&G United, LLC)
$755.00 per team

***You may also pay a $200 deposit to hold your spot, with the remaining balance due by 2/25.

Updates:
-We will be running 12A and 14u divisions for this event next weekend

If you no longer plan on attending this event, please let me know so that I can remove your team from our list so that everyone sees the most up to date information and can make decisions for their teams and their schedules.

Thank you in advance,
Stacey Stepek & AFA team :)
630-335-6830

Attachment

Good Afternoon Coaches-

Payments for our AFA March Madness event @ McQueen Park are now due!!!

Venmo @Stacey-Stepek
or
Zelle to sstepek.azafa@gmail.com (S&G United, LLC)
$755.00 per team

***You may also pay a $200 deposit to hold your spot, with the remaining balance due by 2/25.

Updates:
-We will not have enough 10u teams to run that division for this event
-Please take a look at the Who's Coming List and let me know if you would like to play 12u A or 12u B
***For AFA events, you may register for either division HOWEVER if you win 1st place in the B division twice, you must move up to compete in the A division in your next AFA event***We want to make sure that the divisions stay compeitive, but also fair and that we are encouraging player/team growth within our organization.

If you no longer plan on attending this event, please let me know so that I can remove your team from our list so that everyone sees the most up to date information and can make decisions for their teams and their schedules.

Thank you in advance,
Stacey Stepek & AFA team :)
630-335-6830

Attachment